Fire alarm box



Feb. 1, 1938. R. B. LONG 2,106,849

I FIRE ALARM BOX Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l R. B. LONG 06,849

FIRE ALARM BOX Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 1, 1938.

Feb. 1, R 5 LONG 2,106,849

FIRE ALARM BOX Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOR R. B. LONG FIREALARM BOX Feb. 1, 1938.

Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 1, 1938.

R. B. LONG INVENTOR BYGZM mum ATTO? E Patented Feb. I, 1 938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE ALARM BOX Robert B. Long, Dayton, OhioApplication October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,214

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a fire alarm signal box and more particularlyto a removable hand cuff attachment and the mechanism associatedtherewith, adapted for use in a fire alarm box.

An object of this invention is to provide such an attachment for firealarm boxes that pre vents the reporting of a false alarm withoutdetermining who turned in the fire alarm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is cheap,efficient and dependable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that will notpermit the reporting of the fire by use of mechanical devices instead ofmanual manipulation.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the fire alarm box door immediatelyafter the cuff has been removed.

Fig. 2 discloses an inside View of the door embodying one type ofmechanism for releasing the cuff.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the mechanism at the timethat the mechanism 30, is in cuff releasing position.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of the cufi mechanism, Fig. 6 beingshown in section.

Fig. 7 discloses the preferred embodiment of the cuff releasing dial andthe parts associated therewith.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-0 of Fig.'7.

Fig. 9 is another modification of the cuff releasing mechanism that maybe mounted on theinside of the door.

Fig. 10 shows another modification of a dial that may be used instead ofthe mechanism shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional view of 5 another safety deviceembodied in the modifications shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

Fig. 12 discloses another modification of the cuff mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of one 50. side plate and partsassociated therewith, taken substantially on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 9when moved to other positions.

55-. In the conventional fire alarm boxes there is found a fire alarmsignal mechanism that is actuated when reporting a fire. Most of themechanism is generally located in a housing provided with a door havinga lever or suitable actuating mechanism extending therethrough, so thatthe fire may be reported without actually opening the door. This howevervaries, as in some installations it is necessary to open the door.

In the accompanying drawings the door 20 is 10 provided with a housing.or enclosure 22 having an opening at its bottom receiving a handcuffunit 24 held in position by suitable pins 26. The handcuff unit 24disclosed in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 is a removable closure. It is providedwith an 15 opening 28 and is located in the opening below the closure22. The unit 24 has a pair of gripping jaws 32 and 34 that are releasedby a suitable mechanism to be described later, so as to grip the wristof the operator as he turns the knob mechanism 40, whereby the onereporting the fire carries the cuiT unit 24 on his wrist until thegripping jaws 32 and 34 are released, as fully described in my copendingapplication Serial Number 607,116, filed April 23, 1932, for a Firealarm box attachment, now Patent Number 2,020,279, granted Nov. 5, 1935.

Referring to Fig. 2, wherein the inside of the door has been disclosed,the actuating mechanism includes a lever 42 pivotably mounted on 1 thedoor at 44. This lever 42 supports a pin 46 upon which is rotatablymounted a sleeve 48 supporting a cam 50 fixedly attached thereto. As theknob rotates the cam 50 in a counterclockwise direction through asuitable driving 35 mechanism which will be described later, the lobe 52engages a stationary pin 54 which urges the cam 50 to actuate the lever42 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 about the pivot44 against the spring 56. As the cam 4 50 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction it releases detent member 60 pivotallymounted at 62, permitting the spring 64 to actuate member 60 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby causing theprojection 66 to release the cuff, as disclosed in my copendingapplication.

In some types of boxes it is necessary to open' the door in order toreset the fire alarm signal transmitting mechanism. In others'theopening of the door automatically transmits the signal. In themodification disclosed in Fig, 2, the latch 12 normally opened by theinsertion of akey' in the lock" shownon the front side-of the door, asviewed" in Fig. 1, or by any suitable 5'5 handle or latch isautomatically released when the cam 50 is actuated, so as to release thedetent 60. This is accomplished by a bell crank lever 16 pivotallymounted at 18 having one arm mounted for engagement with the projection84 of member 60, so as to rotate the bell crank member 18 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the pawl 82seated in a suitable recess in member 12 to release it, therebypermitting the door to be swung into open position whenever the handcuffunit 24 is released.

If the signal is transmitted in response to the release of the cuff unit24, the door is automatically unlocked to permit the firemen to resetthe box. If a system is used wherein the box must be opened whenrelaying the signal, the cuff unit 24 will automatically lock itself onthe reporters wrist whenever the knob 40 is actuated to open the door. I

As may be best seen in Fig. 5, the jaws 32 and 34 preferably of toolresisting material, have been lined with heat insulating material 86 and88 such as vulcanized rubber, so that if the reporter of a fire happensto report a fire during extremely cold weather and his arm happens to bemoist, the jaws will not freeze to his arm. This is found necessary forthe safety of those reporting the fires. A tubular sleeve is mountedbelow the opening 28 and is equipped with a resiliently biased closure92 normally in closed position to prevent birds, bees and the like fromforming nests within the housing 22. Furthermore, the sleeve 90 and theclosure 92 keep dust and foreign matter from accumulating in the box.

It is conceivable that a person might insert a suitable object, such asa short pipe, a metallic casing in the opening 28,0r a pair of clampsengaging the jaws to prevent movement thereof, and then pass the armthrough this opening to turn in a false fire alarm, the jaws 32 and 34engaging the object, the operator slipping his arm through the openingand escaping without the cuff unit 24. In order to overcome thisdifliculty a lever 94 pivoted at 96 and biased in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5, by a suitable spring 98 normallyprojects a short distance into the opening 28 and has limited normalmovement. This member 94 is preferably located below the knob or dialside of the fire alarm system. Referring to Fig. 11, a detent I00integral with member 94 is aligned with the opening I02 and with a pawlI04, so that as member 94 is actuated in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 5, the detent I00 will urge the pawl I04 to the left, asviewed in Fig. 11. The detent I04 pivotally mounted at I06 and urged ina counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 11, is provided with anextension I I0 that limits the movement of a pivotally mounted arm II2to prevent the operation of the fire signalling device and the releaseof the handcuff when thus locked. By referring to Fig. 2, the latch armI I2 is pivotally mounted at H4 and provided with a dog H6 normallyseated against member 58. As best seen in Fig. 2,..the latch H2 is urgedin a counter-clockwise direction by a spring II8. Whenever the extensionI I0 of the pawl I04 locks member II2 so as to prevent it from rotatingin a clockwise direction about the pivot II4, it is impossible to rotatethe cam 50 and to actuate the parts associated therewith. Thus, it willbe seen, that if the operator inserts his arm into the opening 28,member 94 may move a limited distance without locking the mechanism. Ithas been found that normally a person will actuate member 94 a limiteddistance but will not lock the mechanism. Furthermore, if the operatorshould p-erchance lock the mechanism. momentarily in attempting torotate the knob 40, the operator would in all probability release thepressure upon member 94 sufficiently long to permit the parts tooperate. On the other hand, if a person tampering and attempting to turnin a false alarm inserts a pipe or some other foreign article into theopening 28 so as to prevent the jaws 32 and 34 from snapping into closedposition, such a person would in all probability actuate member 94sumciently far to lock the mechanism. Certainly this would be the caseinthe event that instead of a pipe, clamping jaws were inserted inopening 28. This would prevent the jaws 32 and 34 to close upon theoperators arm. The clamping jaws thus inserted would actuate member 94in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, so as to lock themechanism. Member 94 is provided with a rubber facing I20 for the samereason as the facing is placed upon the jaws 32 and 34.

When a knob like that disclosed in my copending application Serial No.607,116 is used, it is conceivable that a person desiring to turn in afalse alarm-might remove his belt and use it to drive the knob withoutinserting his arm into the opening 28, thereby defeating the purpose ofthe cuff unit 24, which would permit the violator to escape without anyobstructions. To eliminate this difficulty the knob 40 is rotatablymounted upon a pintle I22 fixedly attached to member 42. The knob isfixedly attached to a gear I24 also rotatably mounted upon. the pintleI22 and meshing with a gear I 20 fixedly attached upon a. stubshaft I28journaled in a shield I30 and driving a gear I32 meshing with a gear I34 fixedly attached upon a tubular sleeve I36 driving the cam 50. Theshield I38 is mounted for vertical movement in the guides I 38 fixedlyattached to the Wall of the door 20, so that the shield may havesubstantially vertical movement with the cam 50.

The face of the shield I30 is cut away at I40 so as to expose oppositelydisposed portions of the knob 40. As may best be seen by referring toFig. 8, the knob 40 is preferably split and provided with an annulargroove 542 in the periphery thereof, into which extend diametricallyar-' ranged members I44 and I46 which obstruct the contour of the knobassembly 43. Members I44 and I48 are fixedly attached to the shield I30and move therewith.

Referring to the modification disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8, the shield forthe gears is supported upon member I22 and moves up and down through aslightly arcuate path in response to the reporting of a fire. Referringto Fig. 9 for example, the cam 50 is precluded from moving downwardly bya pin located below this cam. This is more fully explained in the LongPatent No. 2,020,279. However, as the cam 50 is rotated the lobe 52engages the pin 54, at which time the notch in the cam below the pivot46 is rotated sufficiently so as to register with the pin below the cam,allowing the cam to move downwardly. As the cam moves downwardly, theshield and the gears mounted in the shield also move downwardly inunison with the cam 59. in the Long patent the cam 40 mounted uponmember 31 was rotated by turning the knob II). In the presentmodification the knob I0 has been removed and the gear I34 substitutedtherefor. This gear meshes with the gear I32 fixedly attached to thegear 7 I26, meshing with the gear I24 fixedly attached to the knurl knob40, so that as the operator rotates the knurl knob 40 the cam 50 in theapplication is rotated through the train of gears. From the foregoing itmay readily be seen that it is practically impossible to insert a cord,a belt :3 any type of a string so as to actuate the knob In order topreclude the use of a stick or some other rigid member inserted throughthe opening 28 to engage the exposed portions of the knob 40, a ledge orshelf I50 fixedly attached to the support of the guides I38, obstructsthe path between the knob 40 and the opening 28. Thus, it will be seen,that in addition to preventing the use of a belt and the like forfalsely reporting a fire, the use of a stick or any other rigid memberfor the operating of the knob 40 is prevented.

In Fig. 10 a knob I50 has been shown instead of the knob 40 and thegears driven thereby together with the knob. This knob I 50 is providedwith a substantially bell-shaped locking member I52 pivotally mounted atI54 andnormally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring I56as viewed in Fig. 10. In normal position the arcuate arm I58 of the bellcrank'lever I52 is flush with the periphery of the knob, a portion ofwhich has been cut away to accommodate the arcuate surface of memberI58. The other arm of the bell crank lever I52 normally engages a notchin the pintle I22 so as to prevent rotation of the knob I52 without thefingers of the operator actuating the bell'crank lever I52 in acounter-clockwise direction from the full line position to the dot-dashposition in Fig. 10. When the operator actuates the bell crank leverfrom the full line position to the dot-dash position the arm is releasedfrom the notch in member I22 so as to permit free rotation of the knobI52. If a belt is used by the operator to turn in a false alarm, such abelt will not depress the arcuate arm I58 sufficiently to release thelatch, thereby preventing the reporter of a false alarm frommanipulating the fire alarm signal system by use of a belt, cord, stringor the like.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 the extension I60 ofmember 42 is used to actuate the signal transmitting mechanism which hasnot been shown. It has been found that various types of fire alarm boxesare in use, some of which may have the signal transmitting mechanismlocated elsewhere. In order to provide actuating mechanism that isadaptable to a great variety of boxes the mechanism disclosed in themodification in Fig. 9 may be used.

In this modification in addition to member 42 being used as shown in themodification in Fig. 3, a member I60 is pivotally mounted at I10 andpivotally supports a latch I62 at I64. A member I68 provided with a slotI69 is also mounted upon the pivot I10; but may move through a limitedlongitudinal movement. Member I68 is constantly urged to the right, asviewed in Fig. 14, by a spring I1 I, having one end attached to a studI13 fixedly attached to member I68 and the other end mounted upon thestud I15 fixedly attached to member I60 and projecting through a slotI11 in member I 68, the stud I15 cooperating with the pivot I10 topermit member I68 to have a predetermined movement with respect to itssupport I60. A stud I19 carried by member I68 is engaged by a cam I80having its center at I10 and held in a rigid position by a screw I84threadedly engaging a bracket I8I fixedly attached to the support of themechanism. As members I 60 and I68 'are actuated from the dot-dashposition shown in Fig. 14 to the full line position, the cam I 80retracts or urges member I68 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 14 againstthe force of the spring III to release the latch I62 when the actuator,which has not been shown, has been moved to its full stroke. Members I60and I68 may be actuated in a clockwise direction about the pivot I18 byan adjustable link I12 pivotally mounted at I14 to member 60.

By adjusting the length of the arm I12, which is preferably made of twosectors, one of which is provided with a slot I16, the position ofmember I68 may be further adjusted. In addition to member I62 actuatingthe signal transmitting device, the arm I90 may be provided with asuitable signal actuating member I94 that is preferably mounted onmember I90. When a type box is used where member I94 actuates the signaltransmitting device, the rod I12 may also be adjusted to satisfy therequirements of the system. In order to keep member I68 confined withina predetermined path, a retaining member 200 fixedly attached at 202 and204 to member I69 limits the transverse movement of the arm I68.

In resetting the above described mechanism, member 60 is preferablyrotated in a clockwise direction by a suitable Wrench or tool, notshown, which rotates member I60 in a counterclockwise direction aboutthe pivot I10 into the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 14. The latchI62, which was released during the clockwise movement of member I60, maythen be actuated into the dotdash position shown in Fig. 14.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13 another modification has beenshown,.disclosing a device complementing I20 in preventing themanipulation of the fire alarm signal system without the cuff engagingthe wrist of the operator. It is conceivable that a person having athorough knowledge of the operation of the device may hold his armrigidly against the free ends of the jaws of the cuif shown in Fig. 5.If suflicient force is applied to the jaws, the jaws may be hinderedfrom engaging the operators arm and thereby permitting the operator toslip his arm and hand through the cuff. A member 200 shown in full lineposition in Fig. 12 is slidingly mounted in the casing of the cuffunderneath member 94, as shown in Fig. 13. This member 200 supports apin 202 projecting through a slot 204 diagonally arranged in member 206,pivotally mounted upon the pivot 96.. If member 200 is actuated to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 12, into the dot-dash position, the pin 202cooperating with the slot 204 actuates members 206 in a clockwisedirection about the pivot 96, causing the detent 208 to actuate memberI04 shown in Fig. 11 into locking engagement to lock member I I2,thereby preventing the release of the signalling mechanism. Member 200is normally urged to the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, by a suitablespring 2I0.

From the foregoing it is apparent that if an operator tries to insert acylindrical member to prevent the cuff from engaging the wrist of theviolator, member 94 will in all probability be rotated in a clockwisedirection so as to lock the mechanism, preventing the transmission ofthe signal. Likewise, if the operator should attempt to urge his armagainst the ends of the jaws he would actuate member 200 into dot-dashposition shown in Fig. 12, thereby preventing the reporting. of thesignal. In. either event, the cuff would not be released and thefalsereport would not be transmitted. Anyone attempting to report a firewould normally insert the arm through the opening 28 without actuatingmembers 94 and 200 to lock the mechanism. If, perchance, the mechanismwould be momentarily locked, the reporter of a fire in attempting tomanipulate the lock would in all probability move the arm into suchposition as to release the mechanism, thereby permitting the reportingof the fire. Thus, it may be readily seen that a person attempting todefeat the operation of the cuff would be precluded from operating thefire alarm mechanism, whereas a person desiring to report a fire, if heaccidentally locked the mechanism, would in all probability release thelocking mechanism in attempting to actuate the fire signal transmittingdevice.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and validscope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for identifying the operator of a fire alarm transmittingdevice including a combination with means for operating the signaltransmitting device, said means including manually operable split knobportions having an annular peripheral groove intermediate said portionsand diarnmetrically arranged stationary members extending into saidgroove, said stationary members obstructing a portion of the peripheryof the knob while leaving the remainder of the knob unobstructed, anenclosure for the signal transmitting device having an opening, a,contractible handcuff detachably mounted contiguous to said openingthrough which the operators hand may be inserted tooperate said knob,means for actuating and locking the handcuff in contracted position,means for releasably supporting the handcuff relative to the closureopening and means controlled incident to the operating of thetransmitting device for releasing the handcuff and effecting throughsaid actuating means contraction thereof upon the arm of the operator.

2. A device for identifying the operator of a fire alarm transmittingdevice including a combination with means for operating the signaltransmitting device, including a transferable knob actuating the signaltransmitting device, said knob being mounted within a movable shieldlimiting the exposed portions thereof permitting the knob to be operatedmanually and transferring therewith, an enclosure for the signaltransmitting device having an opening, a contractible handcuffdetachably mounted contiguous to said opening through which theoperators hand may be inserted to operate said knob, means for actuatingand locking-the handcuff in contracted po-' sition, means for releasablysupporting the handcuff relative to the closure opening and meanscontrolled incident to the operating of the transmitting device forreleasing the handcuff and effecting through said actuating meanscontrac tion thereof upon the arm of the operator, said shield deterringthe use of foreign objects in attempting to actuate the fire alarmtransmitting device without inserting the hand through the handcuff.

3. A device for identifying the operator of a fire alarm transmittingdevice including a combination with means for operating the signaltransmitting device, including a manually rotatable knob, and anobstruction partially enclosing the knob leaving at least one sideexposed, said obstruction preventing the unauthorized rotation of theknob by a flexible member such as a cord or belt but permitting manualrotation of the knob, an enclosure for the signal transmitting devicehaving an opening in the bottom, a contractible handcuff detachablymounted contiguous to said opening through which the operators hand maybe projected upwardly to operate said knob, means for actuating andlocking the handcuff in contracted position, means for releasablysupporting the handcuff relative to the closure opening and meanscontrolled incident to the operating of the transmitting device forreleasing the handcuff and effecting through said actuating meanscontraction thereof upon the arm of the operator.

4. A device for identifying the operator of a fire alarm transmittingdevice including a combination with means for operating the signaltransmitting device, including a grooved knob and speed reducing gearsdriven by the rotation of the knob for increasing the effectiveness ofthe means projecting into the groove of the knob for obstructing aportion of the periphery with ing of the transmitting device forreleasing the handcuff and effecting through said actuating meanscontraction thereof upon the arm of the operator.

5. In a device for identifying the operator of a false alarmtransmitting device having a cliff, a cam mounted for oscillatory andtransverse movements, a shield, means for nonrotatably mounting theshield for transverse movement in unison with the cam, and a camactuating mechanism mounted within said shield for actuating said cam,said cam actuating device including a knob partially enclosed andshielded by the shield, said knob having a portion extending beyond theshield, means for interconnecting the knob to the cuff through said camso that the movement of the knob actuated through the shield controlssaid cufi.

6. A device for identifying the operator of a fire alarm transmittingdevice including a combination with the signal transmitting device, anenclosure for the signal transmitting device having an opening, acontractible handcuff detachably mounted contiguous to said openingthrough which the operators hand may be inserted into said enclosure tooperate the signal transmitting with the handcufi, said means havingnormally a free inefiective range of movement permitting the operationof said transmitting device and mechanism for locking the transmittingdevice when said movement of said means exceeds the 5 normal freeineffective range.

ROBERT B. LONG.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,106,23h9. February 1, 19

ROBERT E LONG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page h,second column, line 59 claim h, before "means" insert the word and commaknob,;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1938.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

